Piff Poff

So sorry to hear your news. Best wishes to you and yours at this most difficult time

Bali2010

A horrible situation to be in, and am thinking of you.
Take care of yourself.

suede

Hi - this is how it started, the saga continued from here. Emails to Winnipeg Mayor (dismissed), email to Health Minister, email to Canada's Prime Minister, email to CTV (no answer). Will still work at trying to improve the health system out here............

My name is Sue and my husband is
Geoff. We arrived in Canada in May 2006. My husband (Geoff) has been a trucker since we have been here, working long hours and away from
home. In May 2009 he had a bout of flu, which cleared up however the
cough persisted. In October he went to the local GP who prescribed
various medications. He went back to the GP in November when he got
pain in the right side of his ribs, believing he may have broken them.
the doctor at that time dismissed it as nothing and gave him pain
killers. In December my husband got out of his truck and believed he
pulled a muscle in his leg and on December 31st 2009 numbness had
progressed down the his right thigh, right buttock and groin area, he
went back to the Doctor who made a call to a specialist who informed
the doctor that there was nothing to worry about as the patient did not need immediate attention, and was informed to book a MRI scan, which took place 28th Feb 2010. We were informed
he had 4 slipped discs and an L5 compression after going back to the
Doctor many times for pain, only to be given results after visiting the Doctor once again for the severe pain (Unable to travel in a car
sitting up and required several stops in hope to relieve the pain in
the space of five minutes on the highway). My husband was in so much
pain by March 12th 2010 he came off the road (no pay). April 10th he
was unable to walk as he in a lot of pain after various visits to his
GP, he was asked to wait for an appointment to see a specialist at the
Pan Am Clinic (so we waited and never received the appointment, and
when we told the Doctor about what was going he informed me he had just put the phone down to the specialist and he had stated that there was
nothing wrong with Mr. Ede he could help with). April 10th 2010 the pain was so bad (even taken him to the ER due to constipation and pain on several
occasions), I took him from Ile Des Chenes to St Boniface ER. At
12.15am we were informed he had Myeloma Bone Cancer (some what
gobsmacked). Emitted to the observation ward until 3am and then sent
to a ward upstairs. By Monday 12th then diagnosed not Myeloma, but
Adenocarcino Cancer metastatic, with a broken left hip. The operation
for the hip would take performed first (understandable). It took 4
days of starving him due to cancellations and mis-communication before
the Op took place (all records kept). Finally the Op happened. No
Cancer Care was offered. We come from England and there the Macmillan
Nurses would have been called to the patients bedside. All we got
offered was spiritual help. No one spoke to us about help, aid, support or anything else. The doctors and nurses who cared for my
husband cannot be blamed. I just feel that from the beginning to now
we have been swept under the carpet. My husband is suffering. He was a fit 54 year old male, with muscles, not over weight, did not smoke or
drink (being a trucker). He used to weigh 175lbs in March now down to
137lbs in May!!!!!!

We purchased our house in Ile Des
Chenes (and luv it) January 2009, got stitched up for expensive life
insurance on the house and due to correct this, this year, but now not
able to. So my daughter and 2 golden retrievers will end up loosing
the house as well has my husband and a dad. I do not blame anyone for
this, but I feel we have not been given the best medical help or advice or care. I feel so angry, which is to be expected, but I do not want a child (with a parent that does not care) going through what we have had too. My husband had not worked since
12th March 2010, no EI (forms sent in), no help with Meds (until my
husbands boss contacted Palliative Care (which we knew nothing about),
the insurance forms etc have taken from 10th April 2010 to 12th May
2010 to be completed etc. No money coming in to live on except my
wages ($800 every 2 weeks and the mortgage is 1200 a month, not much to live on). I started a new job November 16th 2009 and on probation for 6 months so have been deducted pay every time I have to take time off
work to take him to Radiation/Chemo/Docs appointments. I work 9-5, but in work 8.30 to 5 and work lunch hours, but this does not count with
the company I work for (I did not ask, neither did he to get Cancer
this time of the year). We really love living here and wish this had
not happened.

I am writing to you asking for your help. I DO NOT want any other person going through what we have. If I have to make this
public 'I will'. I feel you ought to know what your health system is
like. This might be a wasted
email, but I have got a lot of my chest. There is more to this case
than I have written, but I do not want to bore you or be an immigrant
that complains, but when it is your loved one (as you can understand),
you will try anything and everything. But as I stated before this is
not due to the staff at the hospital, however somewhere along the line
there was cock up along the lines of management and we were not given
the full benefits of the health care system. I am not interested in
compensation, but things have to be put right as we do not wish this to
happen to someone else who could be unable to get the support/help/advice, could
be living alone on just their wage, could be a child who's parents
don't care for them, or a single mother who has to bring up kids. The
state of the health care system does not benefit those who live within
this province or country if this is the case, and hopes that bringing
this to your attention would improve it in the future for those who
wont and can't stand up for themselves.

If you can help in anyway, it will be appreciated. It will not bring his health/life back, but I want this not to happen again.

I would like and answer to my email if at all possible whilist my
husband is still alive.

Clematis

I'm feeling cynical...

rossandvi

So very sorry to here of your husbands death,my heart goes out to you Sue.
If your husband was employed for the 4 yrs then perhaps you may get some money for funeral expences you will have to contact the locval Gov.office in your area.I know it must be very hard for you right now as Ilost my husband aged 55 to cancer one year after we moved to Canada. If you would like to talk at any time please do get in touch. Best wishes to you all Vi.x

cityhog

I think you should hire a lawyer. I used to work at a law firm specializing in medical malpractice. It won't cost any money to have an initial consultation with a lawyer. If they're interested in your case after hearing your story and they think they can't sue the hospital and win the case, they'll take up your case. Bring all the documents and evidence to your lawyer for the initial consultation.

Sally Redux

Good luck to anyone who can make head or tail of that ramble.

robert_masters

Same here so sorry to hear that.

All I can advice is do a research on charities organisations for finding funding, usually for people with social/financial/medicals needs, etc,etc.

But obviously you need to research this in Canada.

Good Luck

Angela

triumphguy

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss.

I don't know about the UK, but:

In Canada you might be eligible for this:

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/s...hpension.shtml

Check with work. Your husband may have been insured through their group insurance.

Also check with your mortgage company. He may have had mortgage insurance.

Check with the bank. Sometimes they sell insurance to their clients.

Your husband may also have had life insurance through a broker.

suede

Note sure what you mean by your comments. Have a lil bit of compassion. Im sorry if some of this does not make sense, you should have been in my shoes with the medical sytem out here. The docs and nurses done their best, but it was the CANCER CARE time that did not exsist and that my husbands conditions was miss diagnosed Feb 28th. Hope this is clearer for you.
Dont reply if you are not interested.

lins and Stef McLachlan

Hi
Try not to get upset about the insensitivity and rudeness of the prev post. There is no excuse and with what you have been through it was a needless comment. I am hoping that it was not meant as badly as it came across.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to you and yours...
Stef

Aviator

At the risk of being blunt, what exactly are you looking for?

Shellyj

Unless you are living in the UK or the EEA for some benefits, other than your state pension if you qualify, no you can not claim UK benefits. You need to look to Canadas benefit system.

Sorry for your loss.

Jan n Neil

*sigh*

Sue

I'm thinking that maybe the OP is considering moving back, hence her question, and why I moved the thread from the Canada forum. suede have I got that right? If not let me know and I'll move this thread back.

Sue